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Plans for a large Islamic center in New York were originally drawn up in the late 1960s as the first cultural center occupied a location at 1 Riverside Drive by 72nd Street.[3] The first Islamic Center started functioning on a small scale from a modest townhouse at that address. However, the board of trustees later aspired to build a new larger center in a way suiting its prestigious position in the community, and to be one of the landmarks of New York City.[3] Later, an overall project comprising a mosque, a school, a library, a museum, and a lecture hall, were planned out. After years of delays which included raising funds from Muslim countries, a prolonged process of relocating tenants, and the eventual demolition of the buildings on the site; construction of the Islamic Cultural Center began in October 1984.[4] Construction of the associated mosque began on May 28, 1987, the day which corresponded to the end of Ramadan.[1] The cornerstone of the minaret was laid on September 26, 1988.[2]

One Riverside Drive, the site of New York's first Islamic cultural center

Today, like most mosques, the mosque at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York is oriented toward Mecca at a 58° angle from the west-east axis.[8] Consequently, the building is rotated 29° from Manhattan's north-south street grid,[9] which in turn is rotated 29° from due north-south. The precise calculation of the direction from New York to Mecca was based on the great circle that produces the shortest distance between the two cities.[8]

Imam Abu-Namous engaged in a series of interfaith dialogues with prominent Muslim leaders and rabbis.[10] Abu-Namous's successor as imam, Mohammed Shamsi Ali, continued the meetings.[11] However, due to liberal political differences, Ali was fired from his post in 2011.[12] Ali was replaced with Abdul Razzaq E. Al Amiri.

Two imams (spiritual leaders) of the Islamic Cultural Center have made controversial statements.

The first, Sheik Muhammad Gemeaha, a week after his resignation, stated he had received death threats which partially explained his reason to return to Egypt.[13] He also stated however that "only the Jews" were capable of the September 11 attacks and "if it became known to the American people, they would have done to Jews what Hitler did."[14][15] He also stated that as "Allah described it," Jews "disseminate corruption in the land" and are responsible for the spread of "heresy, homosexuality, alcoholism, and drugs.".[16] These statements were immediately disowned by the Islamic Cultural Center.[17]

Gemeaha's replacement, Omar Saleem Abu-Namous, condemned the September 11 attacks, but argued there was no "conclusive evidence" that Muslims were responsible.[18]